Andrey Arshavin trains with former club Zenit St Petersburg

24 May 2011 03:57

ShareFrustration: Andrey Arshavin endured a disappointing season with Arsenal in which he failed to hit top form

Andrey Arshavin will train with Zenit St Petersburg as the Russian champions consider a bid for their former star.

The Arsenal forward will return to his home city on Wednesday and join up with Zenit from Thursday to keep fit ahead of Russia's Euro 2012 qualifier against Armenia on Saturday week.

Zenit have been open about their desire to re-sign the 29-year-old they sold for ?15million in February 2009 and coach Luciano Spalletti will have a chance to see him at close quarters.

Fenerbahce are keen and there is also interest from Spain, though Arsene Wenger last week said he expected to keep Arshavin.

Nonetheless, the Arsenal boss admits he is in for a busy summer in the transfer market and there is a feeling that the Russia captain has not lived up to expectations.

Arshavin admitted after Sunday's 2-2 draw at Fulham that the season had been a frustrating one.

'By the end of the championship I had a feeling that no matter what we did and however hard tried, everything was against us,' he said. 'We couldn't win. We tried, but the season went its own way. Our paths parted at some point.

'We expected to win something this year. There were good chances. We should have won the Carling Cup final. That is one of the major disappointments of the season. We let Birmingham win.

'It's great that next year we are going to play in the Champions League, or, rather, we'll start in the qualifiers.'

From Russia with love: Arshavin is bidding to stay for for his country's Euro 2012 qualifier against Armenia

Arshavin said his 19-year-old team-mate Jack Wilshere had been the best midfielder in the Barclays Premier League this season. But he chose Manchester United players for every other position, naming Edwin van der Sar his goalkeeper of the year, Nemanja Vidic in defence and Wayne Rooney up front.

Zenit, as well as showing interest in Arshavin, will renew their bid to sign Yury Zhirkov from Chelsea this summer and would consider an alternative move for Everton midfielder Diniyar Bilyaletdinov.

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